Faith in the Public Square

Because of the expected snow storm, this event has been re-scheduled to March 20-21. The New York State Council of Churches will have its annual Ecumenical and Interfaith Advocacy Days in Albany on February 27 and 28. This year’s focus is on immigration and the housing crisis in New York.   According to promotional material, the Council expects that the Governor and the Legislature will focus on addressing the affordable housing crisis in 2023. In addition, they believe, the issue of immigration will be front and center on the political stage because of the lifting of Title 42 and the influx of immigrants across the state.   The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. on Monday with a gathering at Westminster Presbyterian Church , 262 State Street in Albany. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. The guest preacher is Reverend Reginald Bacchus, Senior Pastor at Mt. Ollie Baptist Church in Brownsville, Brooklyn. A reception will follow at 8:00 p.m.   Participants will gather again at the church on Tuesda

Rev. Sam Trumbore has announced his retirement from  First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany   as of July 1. He shared the letter announcing his retirement on Facebook.   Among the factors that impacted his decision were health issues of family members and projects he would like to undertake but which he could do not pursue while in full-time ministry.   Factors that did not impact his decision were health and other job opportunities.   He wrote, in part:   If I could sum all this up, I’d say this: My first act was being a computer test engineer in Silicon Valley. My second act has been my call to ministry. I sense there is yet a third act for my life. Time is short and the freedom to make that move is within reach.   I also realize there is never a perfect time to end a ministry, especially when things are going well. Yet my sense is this is just the right time for me to step aside to make room for a new, younger minister to come and bring in the next generation of Albany UU me